KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are all about fast starts these days.

They’ve started fast in games, taking the lead in the first quarter of each of them, and carrying that advantage into halftime twice. And they’ve started fast on the season, beating the Jaguars, Cowboys and Eagles to surpass their win total from all of last year.

While that may seem like something to scoff about so early in the season, consider that Kansas City never led a game in regulation until Week 9 a year ago.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid insisted that he’d rather score most than first, but he also said there’s value in getting on the board early. It helps build confidence while also allowing a team to settle in for the rest of the game.

• (3-0) Essex 25-25-25, West Nodaway 12-6-15
• (3-0) Stanton 25-25-25, Southwest Valley 12-23-21
• (3-0) Treynor 25-25-25, Logan-Magnolia 12-15-16
• (3-1) Nishnabotna 24-25-25-25 Rock Port 26-9-16-15

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Carlos Beltran homered, Adam Wainwright earned his 18th win and the St. Louis Cardinals beat Washington 4-3 on Monday night, eliminating the Nationals from playoff contention.

Looking for their first NL Central title since 2009, the Cardinals maintained a two-game lead over Cincinnati and Pittsburgh and reduced their magic number to four.

All three teams are headed to the postseason. The Reds and Pirates both won Monday night, clinching at least a wild-card berth when Washington lost.

St. Louis secured no worse than a wild card on Sunday.

Class 4-A

1. WDM Dowling (7) 4-0 131 1

2. Cedar Rapids Xavier (7) 4-0 130 2

3. Iowa City West 4-0 107 3

4. Pleasant Valley 4-0 102 5

5. Ames 4-0 88 8

6. Urbandale 3-1 62 4

7. Waukee 3-1 46 9

8. Indianola 4-0 24 NR

9. Sioux City East 3-1 22 10

10. Bettendorf 3-1 18 7

Others receiving votes: 11, Iowa City High 13. 12, Davenport Assumption 12. 13, Cedar Falls 8. 14, West Des Moines Valley 4. 15, Southeast Polk 2. 16, Dubuque Hempstead 1.

Class 3-A

1. Bishop Heelan Catholic (13) 4-0 139 1

2. Spencer (1) 4-0 114 3

3. Decorah 4-0 108 4

4. Pella 4-0 87 5

5. Clear Lake 4-0 86 6

6. Humboldt 4-0 52 8

7. Carroll 3-1 43 NR

8. Harlan 3-1 39 2

9. Williamsburg 3-1 27 9

10. Webster City 4-0 25 10

Others receiving votes: 11, Grinnell 23. 12, Boone 13. 13, Manchester West Delaware 7. 14, Washington 4. 15, Dallas Center-Grimes 2. 16, Norwalk 1.

Class 2-A

1. Kuemper Catholic (6) 4-0 126 1

2. Waukon (4) 4-0 123 2

3. Spirit Lake (4) 4-0 108 3

4. West Marshall 4-0 97 4

5. Union 4-0 81 5

6. Albia 4-0 62 6

7. Mediapolis 4-0 53 7

8. New Hampton 4-0 48 9

9. North Polk 4-0 29 10

10. Boyden-Hull-RV 3-1 16 NR

Others receiving votes: 11, Central Lyon-GLR 10. 12, Wellman Mid-Prairie 5. 12, Sheldon 5. 14, Garner-Hayfield/Ventura 4. 15, Center Point-Urbana 2. 16, Bondurant Farrar 1.

Class 1-A

1. Iowa City Regina (13) 4-0 139 1

2. St. Albert 4-0 112 2

3. South Winneshiek (1) 4-0 100 3

4. Dike-New Hartford 4-0 97 4

5. Wilton 4-0 74 6

6. Mount Ayr 4-0 59 7

7. North Fayette 4-0 57 9

8. Maquoketa Valley 4-0 40 8

9. Van Meter 4-0 32 10

(tie) St. Edmond 4-0 32 NR

Others receiving votes: 11, Ridge View 16. 12, Paullina South O’Brien 5. 13, Stanwood North Cedar 3. 14, St. Ansgar 2. 14, North Sentral Kossuth 2.

Class A

1. West Lyon (9) 4-0 133 1

2. Wapsie Valley (2) 4-0 118 2

3. BGM (3) 4-0 115 3

4. AGWSR 5-0 96 4

5. A-H-S-T 4-0 84 6

6. Montezuma 4-0 67 7

6. East Mills 4-0 67 8

8. Lawton-Bronson 3-1 35 NR

9. Akron-Westfield 3-1 17 5

10. Packwood Pekin 3-1 14 NR

Others receiving votes: 11, Mason City Newman 6. 12, Hinton 3. 12, Gladbrook-Reinbeck 3. 12, Riverside Highland 3. 12, Garwin GMG 3. 16, Troy Mills North Linn 2. 17, Traer North Tama 1. 17, Griswold 1. 17, Lisbon 1. 17, Algona Garrigan 1.

Class 8-Man

1. Gilbertville-Don Bosco (7) 5-0 133 1

2. Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton (6) 4-0 124 2

3. Newell-Fonda (1) 4-0 95 3

4. West Bend-Mallard 5-0 85 5

5. Adair-Casey 5-0 84 4

6. Springville 5-0 76 6

7. Glidden-Ralston 4-0 56 7

8. River Valley 4-0 34 8

9. Coon Rapids-Bayard 5-0 33 9

10. Sidney 4-0 23 10

(tie) Twin Cedars 5-0 23 NR

Others receiving votes: 12, Easton Valley 8. 13, Janesville 6. 14, Marcus MMC 3.

Game Score:  Iowa Hawkeyes 59, Western Michigan 3

$25 – Denise Johnson of Atlantic (IA 56-17, 17 pts)

$10 – Roger Charley of Tiffin (IA 42-3, 17 pts)

$5 – Roland Hansen of Elk Horn (IA 48-10, 18 pts)

$5 – Madison Neighbors of Atlantic (IA 42-9, 23 pts)

$5 – Gage Leed of Anita (IA 35-3, 24 pts)

*** All Ties Broken By Drawing ***

Saturday’s Game:  Iowa Hawkeyes @ Minnesota